Nant Fach Colliery

Nant Fach colliery was approached through a farm above Goderagraig. When we went there first Snowy was the pony there. Four men worked the mine and Snowy hauled the drams of coal to the surface. The owners of the colliery were finding things very difficult and the approaching Open Cast made them think of giving up Snowy was promised to the Centre when they closed. We made regular visits to see Snowy and I would take a packet of biscuits and have a chat with the colliers and share the biscuits with the and save a couple for Snowy. On one visit I found the mine closed and Snowy not there. I telephoned the owner to be told the mine was sold and Snowy had been given away.

The new owners of the colliery bought Dobbin, Patch and Prince. Snowy's old stable was not big enough for the three ponies and they were left out on the mountain. We spoke to the owners on two occasions about the lack of stables and on the third visit I was threatened and told never to return. Our visits continued but now clandestine. I managed to persuade a reporter from the Sunday People to come to see the conditioned the ponies lived and worked in.

Patch with the reporter Alex Williams

The resultant article helped publicize the fact that Pit Ponies were still working and put pressure on several pit owners. After a long battle the colliery announced it was to close. Dobbin & Patch were to be sold to another Colliery. The payment was to be in coal. So the ponies would have to haul sufficient extra coal to pay for themselves. One of the owners agreed that if we could come up with the cash we could have the ponies. We managed to get the Daily Mail to send a award winning photographer.

Several views of Nant Fach Colliery and Pit Ponies Dobbin & Patch....

The article appeared on Friday 19th June 1998. Lots of good people sent donations and on the Saturday I telephoned the owners to say we had the cash. Over the next few days a deal was done with the RSPCA who offered more from a special fund they had for pit ponies and apparently wanted the ponies for their Wyndam Cottle Centre. The ponies Dobbin & Patch retired. For some reason best known to the RSPCA they did not help Prince and he was sold to a dealer in Merthyr Tydfil. We went there and wrote several times to try to buy him. Patch had been in several collieries before Nant Fach. We do not know much about Dobbin who was much younger.

....Nant Fach

...........................Patch in 1988

.....................................................Patch Roy & Dobbin....................